Promise Anaroke’s Burial Reconciles ANLCA President, Asu Beks

Remains of Promise Anaroke being lowered to the mother earth on Friday at Inyi, Oji River.
• As Enugu Deputy Governor leads cabinet members to burial ceremony
By Francis Ugwoke
Two feuding maritime stakeholders, President of the Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Iju Tony Nwabunike and Publisher of the Shipping World Magazine, Elder Asu Beks, weekend reconciled their differences.
The occasion was the burial ceremony of late Mrs Promise Anaroke, wife of the President of League of Maritime Editors and Publishers, Mr Kingsley Anaroke, at Inyi, Oji River, Enugu State.
Nwabunike and Asu Beks had been sworn enemies for about a year arising from the Board crisis that hit ANLCA soon after the emergence of the former as President.
Asu had battled Nwabunike from all fronts to get him to deploy all resources to settle the crisis to no avail until recently when the matter was laid to rest.
Asu particularly wanted Nwabunike to appeal to Chief Henry Njoku to step down as the Chairman of the association’s Board.
But Chief Njoku insisted on completing his term of office, in protest against the election that produced Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha to the position.
Nwabunike was at a point was very bitter with Asu on the approach.
The two had exchanged unprintable words on industry stakeholders Whatsapp platform.
However, on Friday, November 29, the two put their differences behind them with a huge hug inside Anglican Church, Inyi, Oji River, during a church service.
On entering the Church, Nwabunike had sat near the entrance door where he was spotted by Mr Francis Ugwoke who went to welcome him.
It was at this stage that Asu Beks rose to greet him with a hug that lasted, signifying reconciliation. All other League members in the Church, including Dr. Ovie Edomi, Mr. Friday Odoemena and another journalist, Innocent Orok, followed and watched the scene in utter amazement.
Asu had congratulated Nwabunike on the resolution of the crisis in the association.
Nwabunike later rode with Asu to Awka in the same vehicle after the event.
Late Mrs Anaroke’s body was laid to rest in Anaroke’s compound after the Church service officiated by Rev. Chris Onyia who preached about the need to live a good life as the judgment of God is real.
Restating the reality of heaven and hell, Onyia told the congregation who came from all walks of life to be wary of the judgment day by doing away with all forms of sins.
He told the story of a man who about two years ago passed out during a sickness and was shown how judgment is delivered to the souls of the dead.
According to Onyia, the man gave an account of how all activities of man are recorded and played out as video when one dies.
On his sick bed when he passed out, the man was shown all his sins, including his affair with a married woman.
The man, whose name was not mentioned later recovered from his sickness to tell the story of the need for people to keep away from sin as the result is hell fire.
He had during this time in a coma or passed out made efforts to correct his relations not knowing that they were not hearing him.
Among those who attended the burial ceremony were the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo and his entourage, commissioners and some members of the State House of Assembly.
Among others from the Maritime industry were members of Women in Maritime Transport, journalists, and many others.
The Master of Ceremony (MC) described the occasion as political burial, apparently because of the high number of mourners who graced the occasion.
Late Promise was described as a kind hearted and hardworking woman who touched many lives while she lived.
This was evident in the large turnout of the villagers who attended the ceremony.